Packaging machine



Aug. 12, 1969 E. J. MCCARTHY 3,460,454

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1967 8' Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR EdwardJ. McCarf/zy ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1969 E. J. MCCARTHY 3, 60

PACKAGING MACHINE I Filed Jan. 20, 1967 a Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EdwardJ McCarfhy ATTORNEY g- 12, 1969 E. J. MCCARTHY 3,460,464

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 34 29s as Fig 4INVENTOR Edward J McCar/hy ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1969 E. J. MCCARTHY3,460,464

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 ill] I F 7INVENTOR Edward J McCarf/zy BY -v QM ATTQRNEY Aug. 12,1969

E. J. M CARTHY PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 20, 1967Aug. 12, 1969 E. J. M CARTHY 3, 6

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20. 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 236 i I .L A l vFig. 8

A Fig. /0

INVENTOR Edward J. McCarf/xy ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1969 E. J. M CARTHYPACKAGING MACHINE s Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 20, 1967 Fl ilL'l ATTORNEYAug. 12, 1969 E. J. MCCARTHY 3,460,464

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 F m" mm omcmn.\u.

now P u55 C7172- EXPhNDS TO SCORE MNE Fig/l I NVEN TOR Edward JMcCarf/ry BY M 1 4 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,460,464 PACKAGINGMACHINE Edward J. McCarthy, Eraintree, Mass., assignor to PneumaticScale Corporation, Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts FiledJan. 20, 1967, Ser. No. 610,548 Int. Cl. 133% 9/28, 11/00 U.S. Cl.100-90 21 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A packaging machine havingprovision for compressing loosely packed comminuted material within aflexible bag while supporting the bottom and sides of the bag whereby toeffect shaping of the filled bag and compacting of the material in amanner such that the bag will retain the shape of the compactedmaterial.

This invention relates to a packaging machine.

The invention has for an object to provide a novel and improvedpackaging machine having provision for co mpressing loose flowablematerial contained in a flexible bag whereby to provide a firm landsolidly packed bag which will retain its shape during transportation andhandling of the package.

The invention has for another object to provide a novel and improvedpackaging machine of the character specified having provision forimparting to the bag a predetermined desired shape during the compresing operation.

With these general objects in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the packaging machine and in thevarious structures, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafterdescribed and particularly defined in the claim at the end of thisspecification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a packaging machine embodying the presentinvention with a portion of the upper structure removed;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the drives;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the upper structure of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG, 5 is a Cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the plunging mechanism at a larger scale andshowing the air connections;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a plunger showing the air openings therein;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the pockets partly in cross section, also shownat a larger scale;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of a pocket shown inv cross section;

FIG. 10 is a front elevation of the pocket;

FIG. l1 is a side elevation of a bag showing the different levels of thematerial in the bag before and after compression of the material; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the completed bag provided with a topclosure.

In general, the present invention contemplates a novel packaging machineadapted to handle flexible bags filled with a comminuted flow ablcmaterial, such as flour, and which is arranged to compress the loosepowdered material in the bag and to shape the bag during the compressingoperation to provide a firmly packed flexible bag ready to be top closedand which will retain it shape during handling and transportation of thepackaged material.

Prior to the present invention, it has been the commercial practice topackage flour in a distinctive type of flexible bag with the flour orother soft pulverized material in its loose and uncompressed condition.Such prior bags soon lose their shape when handled because of the loosecondition of the flour in that the side walls become wrinkled and thecorners of the package become dogeared, thus detracting from its salesappeal.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made forcompressing the soft powdered material within the bag while it issupported in a pocket having four side walls and a bottom wall wherebyto remove the entrapped or excess air in the material and to form a moreor less condensed mass within the bag. In practice, the side walls ofthe pocket are recessed to form bulging sides in the bag to simulate theappearance of a conventional flour b ag.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIG. 1, in general,the present packaging machine indicated generally at 10 comprises anintermittently operated rotary machine having a plurality of radiallyextended pocket indicated generally at 12 and into which successivefilled bags 14 are deposited at a receiving st ation 15. The filled bags14 are delivered in a line by a conveyer 16 from a bag filling andweighing machine not shown, successive endmost bags coming to restagainst a stationary plate 18 cooperating with a pusher plate 20operated in timed relation to the arrival of successive spaced bags andwhich serves to transfer the endmost bag in the line into a pocket 12 atthe receiving station 15. The plate 20 is provided with a rearwardlybent extension 19 at the receiving end of the plate which is arranged tohold back the succeeding bag in the line.

In general, each pocket 12 is provided with a bottom wall 21; a movableback wall 22; and two pivoted side walls 24, 26, which latter are rockedinto their open or spread apart position at the receiving station. Theback wall 22 is also moved outwardly a short distance at the receivingstation simultaneously with opening of the side walls. In operation,when a filled bag 14 is transferred into an open pocket 12 by the pusherplate 20, the bag engages the slightly outwardly extended back wall 22and moves inwardly therewith while the back wall returns to its fullyretracted position and, simultaneously therewith, the pivoted side walls24, 26 are closed upon the sides of the bag whereupon the pusher plateis retracted.

Continuing the general description, each pocket 12 has associatedtherewith a plunger or tamping member 28 arranged to be lowered into thebag to rest upon the upper surface of the material during theintermittent movement of the pocket to the next station 39 which isidle, and at the following station 32, which comprises a first pressstation, a pivoted front wall 33 is rocked into cooperative engagementwith the front wall of the bag and the ends of the side walls 24, 26whereupon provision is made for applying pressure to the t amping member28 to compress and partially deaerate the material, provision being madefor permitting the air to escape during the compressing operation. Eachof the supporting walls is recessed on its inner face so that during thecompressing operation the walls of the bag are shaped to simulate thebulging walls of a conventional flour bag, After release of thecompressing force and outward rocking of the front wall 33. the pocketis moved to a second and similar compressing station 34 where thematerial is pressed further down into the bag a point below the scoreline or top closing level of the bag. After passing through an idlestation 36, the bag with its compressed material is discharged from itspocket 12 at station 38 where it is transferred into a pocket 40 of arotary conveyor 42 arranged to deliver the package to a top closingmachine, not

shown. The bag is discharged from the pocket 12 by outward movement ofthe back wall 22, the side walls 24, 26 being rocked to their openposition at the start of the outward movement of the back wall.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4, the pockets 12 are carried by radiallyextended arms 44 of a spider 36 secured to and rotatable with a centralshaft 48 supported for rotation in an upright bearing member 50 attachedto the upper surface of a hollow base 52 of the frame of the machine.The lower end of the central shaft 48 extends through the upper surfaceof the base and is provided with the driven member 54 of a six-pointGeneva mechanism which cooperates with a Geneva driver 56 fast on ashaft 58 supported in the base and in a gear casing 60 attached to theupper surface of the base. As shown in FIG. 2, the drive to the shaft 58includes a worm gear 62 fast on the shaft 58 and a worm 64 mounted on ahorizontal shaft 66 rotatably mounted in the gear casing 60. Thehorizontal shaft 66 is connected by a chain and sprocket drive 68 to amotor driven line shaft 70 which also drives the other machines in asynchronized packaging line of which the present machine is a part.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the pusher plate 20 for transferring a filledbag from the conveyor 16 into a pocket 12 is carried by parallel links72 mounted in a bracket 74, one of the links being fast on a shaft 76carried by the bracket. The shaft 76 is also provided with a cam level78 fast thereon which carries a roller 80 cooperating with a cam 82 faston a cam shaft 84 supported in the machine frame. As illustrated in FIG.2, the cam shaft 84 is driven from the Geneva driver shaft 58, through agear train 86 to a vertical shaft 88 supported in a bracket 90 attachedto the base 52. The upper end of the shaft 88 is connected to the camshaft 84 by bevel gears 92. The cam shaft 84 is supported for rotationin bearing brackets 94, 96 also attached to the base 52. In operation,the filled and weighed bag is transferred from the conveyer 16 into apocket 12 by the pusher plate 20 in timed relation to the arrival of theintermittently movable pocket at the receiving station 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 8, 9 and for a more detailed description of thebag supporting pockets 12, it will be seen that each radially extendedarm 44 is of semicircular or inverted U-shape in cross section and thatthe back wall 22 is carried by a slide bracket 98 supported forreciprocation on a shaft 100 extended radially from and fixed to thespider 46. The shaft 100 is concentric with the semicircular arm 44, andthe latter serves as a cover or shield for the underlying reciprocableparts of the mechanism. The slide bracket 98 is provided with a flangeportion 103 at its outer end to which the back wall 22 is attached andis urged inwardly by two springs 102 extending between the flangedportion 103 and the spider 46, as shown. The slide bracket is limited inits inward movement by an adjustable stop screw 104 carried by anupstanding portion 106 of the radially extended arm 44. The stop screw104 is arranged to engage the head of a stud 108 carried by the flangeportion 103. During its movement from one station to another the slidebracket 98 with its back wall 22 i positively maintained in its inwardlymoved position by the engagement of a hooked portion 110 of a block 112secured to the inner end of the slide bracket with the inner cylindricalsurface of an upstanding rim 114 stationarily supported in an annularflanged member 116 secured to the upper end of the central bearingmember 50. However, at the receiving station 15, and also at thedischarge station 38, provision is made for reciprocating the slidebracket 98 and its rear wall 22, a cutout 118 being provided in the rim114 at the receiving station, and cutout 120 being provided in the rim114 at the discharge station to permit outward move ment of the backwall at these stations.

The mechanism for effecting recriprocation of the slide bracket 98 andits back wall 22 at the receiving station comprises cam operatedmechanism including a roller 122 carried by an arm 124 fast on avertical shaft 128 mounted to rock in a bracket 129 attached to themachine frame. The roller 122 is arranged to cooperate with an arcuategrooved portion 126 formed in the underside of the block 112. A secondarm 130 also fast on the vertical shaft is connected by a link 132 toone arm 134 of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on a stud 136 carriedby a bracket 138 attached to an upright frame member. The second arm 140of the two-armed lever is provided with a roller 142 for cooperationwith a cam 144 fast on a cam shaft 146. The cam shaft 146 is arranged atright angles to the cam shaft 84 and is connected thereto by miter gears148, 150 as shown. A spring 149 is connected to the arm 140 to hold theroll against its cam. In operation, the roller 122 is maintained inalignment with the circular path of the arcuate grooved portion 126 ofthe slide bracket as the pocket 12 is indexed to the receiving station15 so that when the hooked portion 110 rides off the rim 114 and intothe cutout 118, the roller 122 holds the slide bracket 98 in itsretracted position until the cam 144 operates to reciprocate the slidebracket. Conversely, after the reciprocating movement of the slidebracket 98 is completed, the roller 122 holds the hooked portion 110 inalignment with the rim 114 so that upon indexing of the pocket 12 to thenext station, the hooked portion will engage the rim to hold the slidebracket in its retracted position.

The reason for reciprocating the back wall at the receiving station 15is to effect opening or spreading apart of the side walls 24, 26 toreceive the filled bag and to close the side walls on the filled bagwhen it is seated in the pocket. The mounting of the pivoted side walls24, 26 and the hinged structure thereof to permit outward rocking of thesame to receive the bag and inward rocking to close the side walls uponthe bag will now be described. As herein shown, the side walls 24, 26are connected to opposed lower hinge members 160, 162, respectively,mounted to rock on vertical shafts 164, 166 supported in laterallyextended hub portions 168, 170 of the radially extended arm 44. Eachhinge 160, 162 is provided with an arm 172 carrying a roller 174 forcooperation with opposed cam rails 176 secured to and movable with theslide bracket 98. Opposed upper hinge members 178, 180 also connected tothe side walls 24, 26, respectively, are provided with arms 182connected by a spring 184 for urging the side walls outwardly. Inoperation, when the slide bracket 98 with its back wall is movedradially inwardly, the rollers 174 engage inclined portions 186 of thecam rails 176 to rock the side walls 24, 26 inwardly. Conversely, whenthe slide bracket 98 with its back wall is moved outwardly, the rollers174 engage the low portions of the cam ratils 176 to permit the sidewalls to rock outwardly to their open positions by virtue of the spring184. In operation, the back wall 22 is moved radial-1y outwardly arelatively short distance at the receiving station sufficient to permitopening of the pocket, and during the last part of the transfer movementof the bag into the pocket, the back wall is retracted to effect closingof the side walls against the bag. As herein shown, the bottom of thebag is supported on a bottom plate 21 attached to the lower ends of thevertical shafts 164, 166. It will be observed that the back wall 22 isrecessed as indicated at 190', and the side walls 24, 26 are alsorecessed as indicated at 192 so as to provide bulging walls in the bagupon compression of the material therein.

Upon retraction of the pusher plate 20 and closing of the side walls 24,26 against the bag, the pocket 12 is indexed to the next station 30,which is idle, and during its movement to this station, provision ismade for partially lowering the plunger or tamping member 28 into theopen mouth of the bag, the plunger being further lowered into the bagduring its subsequent movement to the next station 32 to rest on top ofthe material therein. As illustrated in FIG. 9, each pocket 12 isprovided with its individual plunger 28 which comprises a hollowcup-shaped member having side walls 194 and a bot-tom wall 196. Theplunger is shaped in plan to fit into the bag and to conform generallyto the shape of the bulged side walls of the bag defined by the recessedportions of the walls of the pocket with sufficient clearance around thesides thereof to permit easy entrance and withdrawal of the plunger.

The plunger 28 is provided with an upright member 198 having a flangeportion 199 attached to the bottom wall 196, the member 198 beingcarried by parallel arms 200, 202 pivotally connected to a hub 204mounted fast on the central shaft 48 to rotate With the spider 46. Theupper parallel arm 200 (is provided at its outer end with a downward-1yinclined extension 206 which carries a roller 208 for cooperation withthe upper edge of an annular cam 210. A spring 212 connected to theupper arm 200 and to its radially extended arm 44 holds the roller 208against its cam 210. In operation, the high part of the cam 210 isarranged to elevate the plunger 28 to a position well above the mouth ofthe open bag in which position the plunger is disposed at the receivingstation 15, and during its movement to stations 30 and 32, the cam 210permits the plunger to be lowered by virtue of the spring 212 to rest onthe upper surface of the material in the bag.

As herein shown, the annular cam 210 is supported by angle brackets 214attached to an annular platen 216 which in turn is supported by uprightframe members 218 attached to the base 52 of the machine. During itstravel from the receiving station 15 to the idle station 30 and then tothe first press station 32, the front wall of the bag in the pocket isguided by an .arcuate rail 220 supported by bars 222 attached to themachine frame. Similar rails 226 and 228 extend between the first andsecond press stations 32, 34 and between the second press station 34 andthe discharge station 38, respectively.

When the pocket 12 with its bag supported on three n sides and thebottom is moved to the first press station 32, the pivotally mountedfront wall 33 is rocked into position against the front of the bag, thefront wall engaging the longitudinal edges of the side walls 24, 26 tocomplete the support of the filled bag on four sides. The front wall isprovided with angle clips 230 arranged to embrace the side walls toprevent spreading of the same during the compressing operation. Asherein shown, the front wall 33 is carried by an arm 231 pivotallymounted on a stud 232 carried by a bracket 234 attached to an upnightframe member 218. The front wall is connected by a toggle arm 236 and byspaced toggle arms 238, 239 arranged to straddle the frame member, thespaced toggle arms being mounted fast one at each end of an eccentricstud 240 journaled in the upright frame member. The arm 238 is connectedby a rod 244 to an arm 246 fast at one end of a rocker shaft 248 whichis journaled in bearing brackets 250 mounted on the base 52. The rockershaft 248 is also provided with an arm 252 fast thereon which carries aroller 254 for cooperation with a cam 256 fast on the cam shaft 146.Thus, in operation, when the pocket 12 comes to rest at the first pressstation 32, the pivoted front wall 33 is rocked into cooperatingengagement with the side walls 24, 26 with the plunger 28 resting on topof the material within the bag. It will be observed that the front wall33 is also recessed to provide a bulging front wall in the compressedpackage. In operation, the toggle links 236, 239 break upwardly to rockthe front wall 33 outwardly, and the links are moved down to a pointimmediately before dead center is reached to rock the front wall to itsclosed position in cooperation with the side walls. In practice, thetoggle linkage is adjusted so that the front wall 33 is seated againstthe front of the bag and the pocket side walls before the toggle reachesdead center so as to avoid breaking of the toggle downwardly and theeccentric stud 240 to which the links 238, 239 are clamped rocks withthe links to move the actual center of the stud toward the pocket andthus serves to provide a small additional extension of the togglelinkage toward the pocket whereby to fully and firmly seat the frontwall against the pocket.

Provision is now made for applying substantial pressure against theplunger 28 to compress the material in the bag. As herein shown, seeFIG. 4, the upper end of the upright member 198 which carries theplunger is provided with a pawl engaging bar 258 for cooperation with apawl 260 carried by one arm 262 of a two-armed lever pivotally mountedon a stud 264 journaled in a bracket 266 attached to the platen 216. Thesecond arm 268 of the two-armed lever is connected by toggle links 270,272 to a stud 274 also carried by the bracket 266, the stud 274 alsohaving a pair of spaced arms 278 fast thereon which are arranged toadjustably support herebetween a swivel ball joint 280 connected by ayieldable link 282 to one arm 284 of a multiple arm lever pivotallymounted on the rocker shaft 248. A second arm 286 of the multiple armlever is provided with a cam roll 288 which 00- operates with a cam 290fast on the cam shaft 146.

As herein shown, the pawl 260 is fast on a stud 292 rockingly mounted inthe arm 262 and is normally rocked out of the path of engaging bar 258.The pawl is arranged to be rocked into operative alignment with the barwhen the pocket comes to rest at the first press station so that upondownward rocking of the arm 262, after the front plate is rocked intoposition, pressure will be applied to the material. In order to rock thepawl into and out of operative pressure applying position the stud 292is also provided with an arm 294 fast thereon, the free end of which isarranged to cooperate with the upper end of a vertically reciprocablecam member 296 mounted in a slide bearing 298 attached to the bracket266. A spring 300 connected between the arm 294 and the slide bearing298 serves to hold the free end of the arm in engagement with the upperend of the vertically reciprocable cam member 296. The slide member 296is connected by a link 302 to the arm 238 of the front wall togglelinkage so that in operation when the front wall is closed upon theedges of the side walls of the pocket at the first press station 32, thecam member 296 will be lowered to permit the pawl 260 to rock intoalignment with the engaging bar 258 by virtue of the spring 300.. Thepawl 260 is notched to provide a horizontal surface 303 engageable withthe top of the bar 258 and a vertical surface 304 which rests againstone side of the bar to limit the rocking movement of the pawl to alignthe pawl with the bar.

Substantial pressure is now applied to the material through the camoperated toggle linkage described to partially compress the material inthe bag. In order to support the bottom plate 21 of the pocket to resistor counteract the pressure applied to the top of the material, a pair ofadjustable disks 306 are provided at the press station which arethreadedly engaged in the bracket 234 as shown. In operation, the uppersurfaces of the disks 306 are aligned substantially with the undersideof the bottom plate 21 so that when the pocket is indexed to the pressstation, the bottom plate will be supported by the disks. Provision isalso made for stabilizing the press supporting bracket 266 mounted onthe annular platen 216 by providing a stabilizing rod 308 connectedbetween the top of the bracket 266 and a shouldered portion 310 of astationary hub 375 surrounding the central shaft 48. It will beunderstood that the annular cam 210 provides substantial clearance atthe first press station 32 to avoid contact of the roller 208 with thecam during the pressing operation.

In practice, when the powdered material is compressed in the bag, anyair intermixed with the material and displaced by the plunger is forcedout and must escape through the top of the bag. In order to preventdischarge of some of the powdered material with displaced air escapingaround the sides of the plunger during the plunging operation, thebottom wall 196 of the plunger is pro vided with the two circularinserts 311, each having a plurality of screened openings 312 throughwhich the air may escape. In the illustrated embodiment of theinvention, the screened openings 312 are arranged in two circles equallyspaced from the center of the rectangular plunger, as shown in FIG. 7.The lower end of the plunger 28 is connected to its flange portion 199and to the bottom wall 196 by a screw 197. The inserts 311 are connectedto the flange portion 199 by screws 313. The screened openings 312communicate with annular passageways 314 in the inserts 311, eachpassageway having an opening extending up through the flange and throughraised hub portions of the flange which are provided with nipples 316.The nipples are connected by flexible conduits 318 to each end of aconnecting pipe 320 supported from the hub 204. The pipe 320 isconnected intermediate its ends by an upright conduit 322 to a block 324directly connected by a nipple 326 to a vacuum valve 328. The block 324is also connected by a pipe 330 to an air relief or atmospheric valve334 disposed at a preceding station. The valves 328, 334 are arranged inpairs one above the other and are supported for rotation with thepockets 12 by a plate 336 attached to the flange 380 of a rotary bearinghub 378. A rotary manifold 338 is supported between the flange 380 and acollar 382, and the parts are secured together and to the hub 204 bybolts 384 extending through the parts as shown.

Each relief valve 334 comprising the upper valve is provided with anatmospheric opening, and each vacuum valve 328 is connected by aflexible conduit 342 to one of a plurality of nipples 344 radiallyextended from the rotary manifold 338. Each nipple 344 is connected to apassageway 348 in communication with a central passageway 350 formed inthe rotating shaft 48. The upper end of the shaft 48 is connected to aconventional rotary air seal fitting indicated generally at 346 having arotating portion 352 connected to the shaft and a stationary housing354, the latter being connected by a conduit 356 to any usual orpreferred regulated source of vacuum. As shown in FIG. 4, the shaft 48is provided with an upper bearing bracket 358 which is connected to across brace 360 extended between upright frame members 362 attached tothe annular platen 216.

Each valve 328, 334 is provided with an operating lever 364 forcooperation with a valve stem 366 and each operating lever carries aroller 368 for cooperation with its respective stationary cam 370, 372.The upper cam 372 comprising the air relief cam is supported on a collar374 keyed to a stationary hub portion 375 attached to the bearingbracket 358. The lower cam 370 comprising the vacuum valve cam isconnected to depending spacer members 376 secured to the underside ofthe cam 372. The lower end of the stationary hub 375 extends into and isaligned with a bearing hub 378 forming a part of the rotary manifold338. As herein illustrated, there is a vacuum valve 328 and anatmospheric valve 334 associated with each plunger 28. The vacuum valve328 associated with the pocket at the first press station 32 isconnected to the plunger openings 'at this station. However, theatmospheric valve 334 disposed above the valve 328 at the first pressstation is connected by the pipe 330 to the plunger openings at thesecond press station 34. In operation, when the pockets come to rest atthe press stations 32, 34 both the vacuum valve 328 and the atmospheriovalve 334 associated with the pocket at the first press station areopened by their respective cams 370, 372 so that the vacuum is connectedto the plunger openings 312 at the first press station 32 and theplunger openings 312 at the second press station 34 are open to theatmosphere. Thus, in operation, vacuum is applied to remove the excessair during the first press operation only, and simultaneously therewith,the atmospheric valve is opened to permit release of air displacedduring the second press operation. As illustrated, the vacuum valve cam370 is designed to permit closing of the vacuum valve at the start ofthe next indexing movement of the pocket away from the first pressstation, while the cam 372 holds the atmospheric valve 334 open duringmovement of the pocket through the remaining indexing stations untilafter the pocket presses the intake station 15 at the start of a newcycle of operation. Thus, the vacuum is applied only at the first pressstation to withdraw the air displaced during the first press operationWhile the air displaced at the second press station may escape to theatmosphere. In practice, it was found that when running some materialthe vacuum valves could 'be eliminated and the plunger openingsconnected to the atmosphere only to release the displaced air during thepress operations at both stations 32 and 34.

After the first press operation at station 32, the pawl 260 engaged withthe bar 258 is elevated and the front wall 33 is rocked away from thefront of the bag leaving the plunger 28 in its lowered position inengagement with the material in the bag. The pocket 12 is then indexedto the second press station 34 where the material is further compressed.The second press station 34 may comprise a duplicate of the first pressstation except that the pawl 260 is made considerably longer than thepawl at the first press station to effect compression of the material toa lower level in the bag.

When the pocket 12 comes to rest at station 34, the front wall 33 isrocked into engagement with the front of the bag simultaneously with thefront Wall at the first press station by auxiliary linkage connected tobe operated by the same cam 256 as the front wall 33 at station 32. Asshown in FIG. 2, the auxiliary linkage for operating the front wall 33at the second press station includes a similar link 244 connectedbetween a similar arm 239 of the front wall toggle mechanism and one arm390 of a two-armed lever pivotally mounted on a stud 392 carried by abracket 394 attached to the base 52 of the machine. The second arm 396of the two-armed lever is connected by a link 398 to an arm 400 formedintegrally with the arm 252 which latter carries the roll 254 forcooperation with the cam 256. Thus, in operation, the pivoted frontwalls 33 at the first and second press stations are opera-tedsimultaneously by the cam 256.

Likewise at station 34 the pressing operation is performedsimultaneously with the pressing operation at station 32 by auxiliarylinkage operated by the same cam 290. The auxiliary linkage foroperating the press mechanism at the second press station 34 includes asimilar yieldable link 282 connected between similar links 278 and anarm 402 fast on a stud 404 carried by a bracket 406 attached to the base52. A second arm 408 also fast on the stud 404 is connected by a link410 to an arm 412 formed integrally with the arm 286 of the multiple armlever which carries the cam roll 288 for cooperation with the cam 290.Thus, in operation, each press station 32, 34 is operated by the samecam having the same throw. However, the compression at the second pressstation 34 extends the plunger 28 deeper into the bag by virtue of thelonger pawl 260. It will be understood that the cam 210 is designed toprovide substantial clearance for the roller 208 at the second pressstation also so as not to interfere with the compressing operation.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, the material in the filled bag is initiallyat a level indicated at 414 relative to a line 416 representing the topclosing level of the bag when it is received in the pocket 12. The firstpress operation is arranged to partially compress the material in thebag to a level a short distance above the top closing level, asindicated at 418; and the second press operation is arranged to furthercompress the material to a level a short distance below the top closinglevel as indicated at 420. In practice, the material is permitted toexpand upwardly a short distance to a level corresponding substantiallyto the top closing level 416 during its travel out of the machine and tothe top closing mechanism of the following machine in the line.

Upon completion of the compressing operation at the second press station34 the front wall 33 is retracted and the toggle operated press pawl'260 is elevated whereupon the pocket is indexed to station 36 which isidle. The pocket is then indexed to the discharge station 38 where thefilled bag is transferred from the pocket 12 into the pocket 40 of thetop closing conveyer 42. During movement of the pocket from the secondpress station to the discharge station, the plunger 28 is elevated outof the bag by the cam 210.

As herein illustrated, the pocket 12 comes to rest at the dischargestation 38 in alignment with the pocket 40, and in order to transfer thebag from the pocket 12 to the pocket 40 provision is made for moving theback wall 22 radially outwardly to first effect opening of the pivotedside walls 24, 26 of the pocket and during continued outward movement ofthe back wall 22, the bag is transferred into the pocket 40. Inoperation, when the pocket 12 approaches the transfer station 38, aroller 422 carried by an arm 424 is aligned with the arcuate groovedportion 126 formed in the underside of the block 112 to hold the backwall in its retracted position when the hooked portion 110 comes intoalignment with the cutout 120 formed in the annular retaining rim 114.The arm 424 is mounted fast on -a vertical stud 426 journaled in abracket 428 attached to the machine frame. A second arm 430 also fast onthe stud 426 is connected by a link 432 to an arm 434 pivotally mountedon the rocker shaft 248. A second arm 436 formed integrally with the arm434 carries a cam roll 438 for cooperation with a cam 4 40 fast on thecam shaft 146.

In operation, the roller 422 carried by the arm 424 is rocked to movethe slide bracket 98 and its back wall 22 outwardly until the bag istransferred to the pocket 40 whereupon the slide bracket is retracted toits initial position to present the hooked portion 110 through thecutout 120 so that the hooked portion will again engage the retainingrim 11 4 upon initial movement of the pocket from the discharge stationat which time the arcuate groove 126 moves away from the roller 422. Thebag with the material compressed therein and transterred to the pocket40 is then provided with a top closure produced by another machine inthe line of packaging machines to produce the package illustrated inFIG. 12 wherein the bag is provided with bulging side walls to simulatea conventional flour bag, the compressed condition of the materialserving to provide a. firm and solidly packed bag which will retain itsshape during handling and transportation of the bag.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a packaging machine, in combination, means for supporting a bagfilled with a compressible material, said supporting means comprising abottom support and four side walls, and means engageable with the top ofthe material for compressing the same in the bag to provide a firm andsolidly packed bag capable of holding its compressed shape duringhandling and transportation thereof, said bag support including amovable back wall and two adjacent walls interconnected with said backwall to move from an open to a closed position.

2. In a packaging machine, in combination, means for supporting a bagfilled with a loosely packed comminuted material, said supporting meanscomprising a bottom support and four side walls, each of said side wallsbeing recessed, and means engagea-ble with the top of the material forcompressing the same into the bag and into said recesses to provide afirm and solidly packed bag having bulging side walls capable of holdingits shape during handling and transportation thereof, said bag supportincluding a normally open front wall movable into cooperating engagementwith the remaining walls prior to the compressing operation.

3. In a packaging machine of the character described having a pluralityof opera-ting stations, in combination, means for supporting a bagfilled with a loosely packed compressible material, said supportingmeans comprising a bottom support and four side walls, compressing meanscomprising a plunger engageable with the top of the material forcompressing the same in the bag to provide a firm and solidly packed bagcapable of holding its compressed shape during handling thereof, andmeans cooperating with said plunger for permitting escape of the airdisplaced from the material during the compressing operation, saidcompressing means including a first compressing station for effecting aninitial compressing operation, and a second compressing station foreffecting a final compression operation.

4. A packaging machine as defined in claim 3 wherein said side walls arerecessed to provide a solidly packed bag having bulging side walls.

5. A packaging machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the air escapemeans includes screened openings in the bottom of the plunger, and meansconnecting said openings to the atmosphere.

6. A packaging machine as defined in claim 3 wherein the air escapemeans includes screened openings in the bottom of the plunger, and meansconnecting said openings to a source of vacuum.

7. A packaging machine as defined inclaim 3 wherein the initialcompressing operation effects compression of the material to a pointabove the top closing level of the bag, and wherein the finalcompressing operation elfects compression of the material to a pointbelow said top closing level.

8. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, apocket for supporting a bag filled with a compressible material, saidpocket comprising a bottom support, a movable back wall and hinged sidewalls, means for reciprocating said back wall, and means interconnectingsaid back wall and the hinged side walls for rocking the side walls totheir open position upon forward movement of the back wall, said sidewalls being rocked to their closed position upon. retracting movement ofthe back wall.

9. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination, apocket for supporting a bag filled with a compressible material, saidpocket comprising a bottom support, a movable back wall and hinged sidewalls, means for reciprocating said back wall, and means interconnectingsaid back wall and the hinged side walls for rocking the side walls totheir open position upon forward movement of the back wall, said sidewalls being rocked to their closed position upon retracting movement ofthe back wall, means for transferring a filled bag laterally from asupply thereof into the open pocket, said back wall being retracted toeifeclt closing of the side walls about the bag when the latter is fullyseated in the pocket.

:10. In a packaging machine of the character described, in combination,a pocket for supporting a bag filled with a compressible material, saidpocket comprising a bottom support, a movable back wall and hinged sidewalls, means for reciprocating said back wall, and means interconnectingsaid back wall and the hinged side walls for rocking the side walls totheir open position upon forward movement of the back wall, said sidewalls being rocked to their closed position upon retracting movement ofthe back wall, means for transferring a filled bag laterally from asupply thereof into the open pocket, said back wall being retracted toefiect closing of the side walls about the bag when the latter is fullyseated in the pocket, :a front wall movable into cooperating engagementwith the side walls to complete the four sides of the pocket after thebag is transferred thereto, means for then compressing the material inthe bag, said front wall being moved out of engagement with the sidewalls after the compressing operation, and means for thereafter movingsaid back wall forwardly to open said 'side walls and to discharge thebag from the pocket.

11. An intermittently operated rotary packaging machine of the characterdescribed, in combination, a

plurality of radially extended pockets for supporting filled bags andmovable to a plurality of opera-ting stations including a bag receivingstation, a compressing station, and a discharge station, each of saidpockets having a bottom support, a radially reciprocable back wall andhinged side walls, said side walls arranged to be opened and closed uponforward and retnacting movement respectively of said back wall, a supplyconveyer, means at said bag receiving station for opening the pocket,means for transferring successive filled bags from the conveyer intosuccessive open pockets, said pockets being closed upon seating of a bagtherein, a front wall at said compressing station movable intocooperating engagement with the bag and said side walls to completesupport of the bag on four sides, a plunger for compressing the materialin the bag, said front wall being moved out of engagement with thepocket after the compressing operation, and means at said dischargestation for moving said back wall forwardly to open said side walls andto discharge the bag from the pocket.

12. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein the back wall ofeach pocket is carried by a reciprocable slide member and is resilientlyretained in its re-tracted position against an adjustable stop, an annular retaining ring cooperating with said slide member to preventinadventent forward displacement of the back wall, said ring havingcutouts at said bag receiving station and said discharge station topermit forward movement of said slide member and its back wall at saidstations.

'13. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein a plunger isassociated with each pocket, each plunger provided with screenedopenings in the bottom wall thereof connected to the atmosphere topermit escape of displaced air during the com-pressing operation.

14. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein a plunger isassociated with each pocket, each plunger provided with screenedopenings connected to a source of vacuum to remove the air displacedduring the compressing operation.

15. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein a plunger isassociated with each pocket, and means for raising and lowering saidplunger into and out of the bag.

16. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein the operatingstations include a second compressing station and wherein the materialis compressed to a point above a top closing level at said firstcompressing station, and is then compressed to a point a short distancebelow said top closing level at said second compressing station.

17. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein said back wall,side walls and front wall are recessed and wherein the compressingoperation packs the material and the adjacent walls of the bag into saidrecesses.

18. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein a plunger isassociated with each pocket and is arranged to rest on top of thematerial at the compressing station, and means engagea'ble with theplunger for applying substantial pressure to perform the compressingoperation.

19. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein the operatingstations include a second compressing station also having a front wallmovable into cooperating engagement With the bag and said side walls,and cam operated means for simultaneously moving both of said frontwalls into operative relation to their respective pockets at saidcompressing stations.

20. A packaging machine as defined in claim 11 wherein the operatingstations include a second compressing station and wherein a plunger isassociated with each pocket and is arranged to rest on top of thematerial at each compressing station, and cam operated means engageablewith the plunger at each compressing station for applying substantialpressure to perform the compressing operation simultaneously at eachcompressing station.

21. A packaging machine as defined in claim 20 wherein the 0am operate-dpressure applying means includes a pawl engagearble with the upper endof an upright menrber extended from the plunger at each compressingstation, the pawl at the first compressing station being of a length toeffect compression to a predetermined level in the bag, and the pawl atthe second compressing station being of a length to effect compressionto a predetermined lower level in the bag.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 801,963 10/1905 Beaty 100-90980,949 1/1911 Heybach 141-80 XR 1,025,882 5/1912 Rose 53-124 XR1,221,313 4/1917 Gwinn 53-124 XR 2,607,435 8/1952 Dohse 100-90 2,959,9001l/1960 Wollett 100-90 XR 3,035,513 5/1962 Johnson 100-218 3,112,77712/1963 Lohse 141-80 3,352,231 11/1967 Thomson 100-90 3,377,945 4/1968Da-vis 100-90 BILLY J. WILHlTE, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

